Department of Building, Energy & Society

Social Work

My Studies

Curriculum
 

Current Curriculum

1. Semester

Introductory Phase – Professional Competence | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417101 Critical-Reflective Social Work 4 SWS 7 ECTS
(August Aichhorn lecture) Critical analysis of topics and trends of social work (social work, social management, social education); Critical-reflective theories of social work; Historic-critical analysis of social work; Intercultural communication: self-reflective analysis of encounters with the unfamiliar.
Social Work Research and Master's Thesis | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417403 Research Process, Designs and Methods of Survey and Analysis 2 SWS 4 ECTS
Lecture series with experts from organisations like Doctors without Borders (MSF), amnesty international, medico international; significance for social work
Social Work Research and Master's Thesis | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417402 Theory and Empiricism in Social Work Research 2 SWS 4 ECTS
Trauma theory, therapy options, psychology of perpetrators Please note: this course can be taken in the 2nd or 4th semester.
Elective Subjects:
Introductory Phase – Professional Competence | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417104 Action Concepts and Methods (A-A) 4 SWS 10 ECTS
Case management: introduction to methods of social work; case management; theories-in-use (learning theory, field theory, systemic theory, symbolic interactionism, psychoanalysis), case work, relationship orientation, life world orientation, goal orientation, communication, interviewing, documentation, self-evaluation. Case management, family work, group work, client work and organisation; crisis intervention: definition of ‘crisis’, diagnosis; techniques of crisis intervention; interviews in crisis situations; "Rhetorics in crisis situations"
Introductory Phase – Professional Competence | Seminar (SE) | Coursecode: 140417109 General Studies (A-C) 0 SWS 13 ECTS
Students may also attend lectures, tutorials, congresses, conferences etc (min. 13 ETCS) on other degree programmes of FH JOANNEUM or other universities in Austria and abroad after consultation with the head of degree programme. The aim is to obtain an overview of current concepts and theories about knowledge, attitudinal, action and/or reflective competence.
Introductory Phase – Professional Competence | Seminar (SE) | Coursecode: 140417110 General Studies Tutorial (A-C) 2 SWS 2 ECTS
Reflection and exchange of personal learning experiences; assessing the achievement of objectives and credits for external courses.
Introductory Phase – Professional Competence | Practical (PR) | Coursecode: 140417107 Internship (A-B) 0 SWS 13 ECTS
Ten-week placement (325 hours) at a public or private social work provider in Austria or abroad or credits for professional work in the career entry phase. Students familiarise themselves with their future professional role under continuous supervision or relevant professional practice in the career entry phase.
Introductory Phase – Professional Competence | Seminar (SE) | Coursecode: 140417108 Internship Tutorial (A-B) 2 SWS 2 ECTS
Supervision and practical instruction during the internship or career entry phase; understanding one’s future professional role, finding personal learning objectives and reflection of personal learning experiences; insights into the framework of social work, legislation, organisation, clients and work methods; reflection of one’s own and others’ actions, scientific basis of practical processes; training of action competence; exchange and experience and in-depth information about placement positions and relevant resources, opportunities, offers and services for the target groups of social work.
Introductory Phase – Professional Competence | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417106 Professional Ethics (A-A) 1 SWS 2 ECTS
Ethical awareness as a defining element of professional social work. Ability to act ethically as a key quality aspect of the service provided to the client. Job profile, human rights, respect for the equality and dignity of all people, "Codes of Ethics" according to IFSW, etc., focusing on different fields of action.
Introductory Phase – Professional Competence | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417105 Self-Reflective Social Work: Supervision and Self-Evaluation (A-A) 2 SWS 3 ECTS
Supervision concepts, supervision process, case management, reflection techniques, supervision settings, supervision and organisational development, recognising implicit and explicit values and norms in one’s own and others’ patterns of action and interpretation; expanding the professional scope of action by eliminating personal borders

2. Semester

Social Work Research and Master's Thesis | Seminar (SE) | Coursecode: 140417201 Research Workshop 3 SWS 8 ECTS
Organisation of a research day with the aim to discuss different research approaches and provide an overview of the research portfolio of the degree programme. Exemplary research process; practical application and reflection of social work research in small groups; exploration of a research topic of the degree programme; consistent application of survey and analysis methods; analysis in the context of scientific criticism; working with secondary and infrastructure data; working in research teams; data interpretation and presentation; writing reviews; preparing a workshop report; presenting research results
Elective Subjects:
International and Intercultural Social Work | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417203 Case Studies and (Auto-)biographical Insights 2 SWS 3 ECTS
Conducting (biographical) interviews; reading seminar and methodology; also serves as preparation for the master’s thesis or as support of study/field trips Please note: this course can be taken in the 2nd or 4th semester.
International and Intercultural Social Work | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417204 International Social Work in Literature and Film 2 SWS 4 ECTS
Reading, cinema and discussion seminar. Literary and cinematographic problem representation and presentation of international social work in literature and film. Please note: this course can be taken in the 2nd or 4th semester.
International and Intercultural Social Work | Seminar (SE) | Coursecode: 140417207 Introduction to Ethno-Psychoanalytical Social Work (Excursion 1) 4 SWS 5 ECTS
1-week study trip with subsequent supervision (SE). Preparation and follow-up to study trip
International and Intercultural Social Work | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417205 Poverty, War, Persecution, Migration 2 SWS 4 ECTS
International poverty research, war and peace research, migration research, perpetrator research, victimology; social work with war victims, torture victims Please note: this course can be taken in the 2nd or 4th semester.
International and Intercultural Social Work | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417202 Social Work in Foreign Cultures 2 SWS 3 ECTS
International projects and field reports; discourse on the relationships between globality, globalisation and social work; methods from around the world. Please note: this course can be taken in the 2nd or 4th semester.
International and Intercultural Social Work | Seminar (SE) | Coursecode: 140417206 Technical English – Part 1 2 SWS 3 ECTS
Training and consolidation of language skills. Topics relevant to social work are discussed using text, film, radio as well as new media.
Social Policy, Social Economics and Social Management | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417210 Human Resource Management and Relevant Legislation 6 SWS 10 ECTS
Labour & social law; human resource management & development; Case study/practice reflection: human resources in (own) management behaviour Please note: this course can be taken in the 2nd or 4th semester.
Social Policy, Social Economics and Social Management | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417209 Organisational Theories and Management Concepts in Practice 4 SWS 6 ECTS
Organisation and structure of social work organisations Change management: organisational development and transformation management Social planning and social space management: public administration and new public management Strategic management with a focus on gender and diversity Case study/practice reflection: organisation analysis Please note: this course can be taken in the 2nd or 4th semester.
Social Policy, Social Economics and Social Management | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417208 Social Economics, Social Policy and Social Philosophy 4 SWS 6 ECTS
Social economics: social work organisations between state, market and civil society social work, social policy & social economics: trends and analyses; globalisation and transformation processes of the welfare state social philosophy and ethics Case study/practice reflection: ethics and corporate responsibility Please note: this course can be taken in the 2nd or 4th semester.
Social Work with People in Precarious Circumstances | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417211 International Discourse on Precarity, Exclusion and Imbalance 5 SWS 7 ECTS
Introduction, fundamentals and representations; preventive measures: sustainability, resource efficiency; capabilities and social justice Please note: this course can be taken in the 2nd or 4th semester.
Social Work with People in Precarious Circumstances | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417213 Social Work with Mentally Ill People in Precarious Circumstances 5 SWS 7 ECTS
Psychopathology and social psychiatry of aging; empowerment, total institutions, neglect - hospitalisation; problem and resource oriented diagnosis; gender, intersectionality; specific methods of social work with mentally ill people; Please note: this course can be taken in the 2nd or 4th semester.
Social Work with People in Precarious Circumstances | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417212 Social Work with Older People in Precarious Circumstances 5 SWS 8 ECTS
Biographical and sociological reflection of aging; empowerment, total institutions, neglect - hospitalisation; gender, intersectionality; specific methods of social work with older people. Please note: this course can be taken in the 2nd or 4th semester.

3. Semester

Social Work Research and Master's Thesis | Seminar (SE) | Coursecode: 140417301 Preparation of a Research Project (Synopsis for Master’s Thesis) 3 SWS 12 ECTS
Development of a detailed synopsis for the master thesis (approx. 20 pages); guidelines for master’s theses; process and requirements for master’s theses; selection of research topic and defining a research question; literature and data research; planning the research process; drawing up a bibliography; developing a theoretical position on the master’s thesis topic; developing a concept for the study design and the survey and analysis methods; carrying out exemplary surveys, data analysis and reflection; work schedule for the master’s thesis; discussion of synopsis with thesis supervisor and presentation.
Elective Subjects:
International and Intercultural Social Work | Seminar (SE) | Coursecode: 140417304 Introduction to Ethno-Psychoanalytical Social Work (Excursion 2) 4 SWS 5 ECTS
1-week study trip with subsequent supervision (SE). Preparation and follow-up to study trip
International and Intercultural Social Work | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417303 Refugees and Asylum 2 SWS 5 ECTS
Fundamentals of asylum systems and coordination; (unaccompanied) minors and youths; institutions such as Integrationshaus, ZEBRA etc. (excursions)
International and Intercultural Social Work | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417302 Social and Cultural Practice 2 SWS 5 ECTS
Foreign cultures (e.g. Islam, Sinti, Chechnya) and meetings with relevant experts and institutions (e.g. Hemayat, ZEBRA, Aspis). International cooking course with and for migrants; the foreign in the arts; music, performing arts, poetry; psychological context of headscarves; customs, habits and traditions
International and Intercultural Social Work | Seminar (SE) | Coursecode: 140417305 Technical English – Part 2 2 SWS 3 ECTS
Problem-based learning is used to explore contents relevant to the field of social work. Students acquire terminology and explore international social work through webquests and critical use of the Internet as a source of information.
Social Policy, Social Economics and Social Management | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417306 Financial Management and Business Management 6 SWS 9 ECTS
Finance and business management fundamentals balance sheet, cost accounting, annual accounts, controlling revenue law and financing models in the social sector and social work; corporate law Case study/practice reflection: financing / controlling
Social Policy, Social Economics and Social Management | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417307 Organisational Management 6 SWS 9 ECTS
Project and risk management strategic marketing, social marketing, PR organisation of social services, quality development and quality management Case study/practice reflection: innovative organisation of social services
Social Work with People in Precarious Circumstances | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417308 Social Work with Adolescents in Precarious Circumstances 6 SWS 9 ECTS
Biographical and sociological reflection of one’s own youth and adolescence; youth culture, new media; gender, intersectionality; specific methods of social work with adolescents.
Social Work with People in Precarious Circumstances | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417309 Social Work with Adults in Precarious Circumstances 6 SWS 9 ECTS
 Biographical and sociological reflection of adulthood; transgenerative analysis; families – community society; subculture, milieus, single parents, unemployed, homeless; gender, intersectionality; specific methods of social work with adults.

4. Semester

Social Work Research and Master's Thesis | Master's Thesis (MA) | Coursecode: 140417401 Master’s Thesis 3 SWS 20 ECTS
Students carry out a research project Thesis seminar; reflection and discussion of development steps and intermediate results; presentations.
Elective Subjects:
International and Intercultural Social Work | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417402 Psychosocial Aspects of Torture and War 2 SWS 3 ECTS
Trauma theory, therapy options, psychology of perpetrators Please note: this course can be taken in the 2nd or 4th semester.
International and Intercultural Social Work | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417403 Social Work by International Organisations 2 SWS 2 ECTS
Lecture series with experts from organisations like Doctors without Borders (MSF), amnesty international, medico international; significance for social work
International and Intercultural Social Work | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417404 Technical Literature on Intercultural and International Topics 2 SWS 5 ECTS
Reading and discussion forums on topics related to the master’s thesis.
Social Policy, Social Economics and Social Management | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417405 Leadership and Selected Social Management Legislation 6 SWS 10 ECTS
Personnel management, team development, conflict management and promoting potentials Leadership theories and organisational ethics; legal aspects of new media, data protection, liability Case study/practice reflection: selected social management legislation Please note: this course can be taken in the 2nd or 4th semester.
Social Work with People in Precarious Circumstances | Lecture/Practical (IL) | Coursecode: 140417406 Social Work with Children in Precarious Circumstances 5 SWS 10 ECTS
Reflecting one’s own childhood from a biographical and sociological perspective; history and sociology of childhood and family; development psychology; socialisation theories; talking with children; play therapy, gender, intersectionality; specific methods of social work with children. Please note: this course can be taken in the 2nd or 4th semester.